Hyperacute Incidental Late Myocardial Enhancement in Ischemic Stroke Using Chest Spectral CT: Relationship with Etiology.

Background: Hyperacute cardiac imaging of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), though desirable, is impractical. Using delayed-enhancement, low-dose, non-gated, chest spectral computed tomography scans (DESCT), we explored the prevalence and patterns of incidental myocardial late iodine enhancement (LIE) and embolic sources, and their relationship with stroke etiology.

Methods: Since July 2020, DESCT was performed after cerebrovascular CT angiography (CTA) among patients with suspected AIS undergoing CT using a dual-layer spectral scanner, without additional contrast administration.